Saturday, August 19, 2017

Science has known that birds, insects, reptiles, and fish
can detect ultraviolet light. Recent studies show that more animals share this
ability than originally believed. A new study shows that cats and dogs may be
able to see UV, too.

Cats are nocturnal and have been thought of as being able to
"see in the dark." They have long been a symbol of the mysterious.
It's now believed they can see things invisible to humans such as psychedelic
stripes on flowers and flashy patterned feathers on birds. The secret to this
is ultraviolet light detection, an ability shared by many animals but not
humans. Snow reflects UV but white fur does not, allowing reindeer to see polar
bears at a distance. Humans would just see a blur of all white.

It is assumed that most mammals do not see UV because they
have no visual pigment sensitive to UV. They have lenses like those of man that
prevent UV from reaching the retina. Certain people, such as those who have had
their lenses replaced during cataract surgery, can see some UV, but most humans
cannot.

Humans are good at seeing detail. If we didn't have a lens
that removed the UV so that we don't see it, the world would appear more
blurry.

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Dogs—commonly referred to as man's best friend. Somewhere
between 11,000 and 15,000 years ago, dogs were among the first of the animals
to be domesticated by man and are well known for being loving and loyal. They
also have many lesser-known and quite fascinating traits.

Here's a list of 10 of those qualities.

10) They have 3 eyelids. Like people, dogs have top
and bottom ones that move up and down. They also have one that originates in
the corner of the eye and moves side to side. Its purpose is to clear mucus and
debris from the eye.

9) Dogs really do love their humans. MRI scans reveal
that when presented with the scents of various people and canines, the reward
centers of the dog's brain is most responsive to the aromas of their human
companions.

8) They're just as smart as toddlers. Specially
designed IQ tests show that dogs' capabilities are on par with the typical 2-year-old.
That means they're capable of learning over 150 words and gestures.

7) Dog paws often smell like snack foods. There's
some debate as to whether the particular scent is popcorn or corn chips, but
either way the cause of it has been linked to a bacteria dogs pick up while
walking.

6) Canines possess the ability of night vision. It's
not on the same level as cats, but it is superior to that of humans. A dog's
pupils are larger and their central retinas have more cells dedicated to light
sensitivity than to color detection. That gives them an upper hand when it
comes to making out objects in dim light.

5) Every nose
is unique. The Canadian Kennel Club has been using nose prints as a
means of individual identification since the 1930s and many organizations have
followed suit.

4) They most likely dream. Proof isn't at the 100
percent mark, but there is an abundance of support backing the claim. Much of
it is based on brain attributes and behaviors that dogs and humans share. Among
them are structure and the occurrence of electrical impulses during the deep
sleep stage.

3) Fur isn't
just about warmth. In the summer it acts as insulation, keeping heat
from reaching their bodies. Fur also protects their skin from the sun's
damaging rays.

2) They really do listen when you talk. Even better,
they've been shown to understand a lot of what's being said. Though they're not
able to decipher the words, dogs can interpret certain sounds and the message's
overall emotional tone.

1) Dogs aren't nearly as sweaty as humans. That's
largely because rather than having sweat glands all over the bodies, as people
do, dogs only have them in their paws. To cool off, they rely mostly on
panting.

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